Bannon criticizes Catholic Church's response to Trump's plan for DACA
After President Trump's plan to end DACA was announced Tuesday, Steve Bannon criticized the response of the Catholic Church, whose U.S. leaders condemned the decision as "reprehensible."
"I totally respect the pope and I totally respect the Catholic bishops and cardinals on doctrine. This is not about doctrine. This is about the sovereignty of a nation. And in that regard, they're just another guy with an opinion."
Bannon, the president's former chief strategist, told Charlie Rose that the Church has an "economic interest in unlimited immigration." With a declining number of Americans joining the priesthood and attending mass, "[Catholic leaders] need illegal aliens to fill the churches. That's-- it's obvious on the face of it," Bannon said.
"I totally respect the pope and I totally respect the Catholic bishops and cardinals on doctrine," continued Bannon, who is Catholic. "This is not about doctrine. This is about the sovereignty of a nation. And in that regard, they're just another guy with an opinion."
Below is the script of the full excerpt that aired on CBS This Morning:
STEVE BANNON: Look what he did on DACA the other day. OK, I don't agree with that DACA decision, but I understand how he struggled with it, I understand how he's giving the possibility of a legislative thing. And he said even last night in a Tweet-- even in a Tweet, he would rethink it. Trust me, the guys in the far right, the guys on the conservative side are not happy with this.
CHARLIE ROSE: I remind you, a good Catholic, that Cardinal Dolan is opposed to what's happened with DACA. Cardinal Dolan.
STEVE BANNON: The Catholic Church has been terrible about this.
CHARLIE ROSE: OK.
STEVE BANNON: The bishops have been terrible about this. By the way, you know why? You know why? Because unable to really-- to-- to-- to come to grips with the problems in the Church, they need illegal aliens, they need illegal aliens to fill the churches. That's-- it's obvious on the face of it. That's what-- the entire Catholic Bishops condemn him.
CHARLIE ROSE: They?
STEVE BANNON: They have-- they have an economic interest. They have an economic interest in unlimited immigration, unlimited illegal immigration. And as much as--
CHARLIE ROSE: --that's a tough thing to say about your church.
STEVE BANNON: As much as I respect Cardinal Dolan and the Bishops on doctrine, this is not doctrine. This is not doctrine at all.
CHARLIE ROSE: Let me talk--
STEVE BANNON: I-- I totally respect the Pope and I totally respect the Catholic Bishops and cardinals on doctrine. This is not about doctrine. This is about the sovereignty of a nation. And in that regard, they're just another guy with an opinion.
Watch Charlie Rose's interview with Bannon on 60 Minutes, Sunday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
